The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-05


political significance Neither is it essential
to the welfare Of the State or Of the Repub-
lican party that Colonel Robertson individu-
ally should be invested with political Office or
honor. But Colonel Robertson, as the repre-
sentative of principle, and having been
elected by majority of the people to the
second highest office in the State, assumes
far more important relation. Republicans
respect him as man, and for what he is, but
they hold of infinitely greater Importance the
principle he representative principle of pop
ular sovereignty and majority rule. This,
undoubtedly, is what Mr.. Roberts had in his
mind when he said that while in monarchical
country he would expect all doubts in
political controversy to be resolved in favor Of
the crown, in free country all doubts should
be resolved in favor of the people. Here the
people are sovereign. They are the source Of
all power, and there is no higher. Expressed
according to the forms Of law their voice is
the voice of God. Therefore, for any party,
faction, cabal, combination or individual to
attempt to overthrow the will of the people,
as expressed in a popular election, is the
worst form of treason that can be known in
free government. And any doubt in regard
TO any contested election should always be
resolved in favor of the people, and so as to
give effect to their choice. On this point
read what the Supreme Court of Maine said
in celebrated political case in that State,
known as the Garcelon case. A few Demo
cratic conspirators headed by Governor Gar
celon, were trying to overturn a popular
election. In deciding against them, the
Supreme Court said:
"The Constitution is to be construed when
practicable, not SO as to thwart, but to ad
vance the continuance and orderly conduct
of the government by the people, .
This government rests upon the great consti-
tutional axiom that all power is inherent in
the people. 1t is government of the people,
by the people and for the people, and if ad
ministered in the spirit of its founders it
shall not perish from the earth. It's Consti-
tuition was formed, to use the apt expression
of one whose memory is embalmed in the
hearts of his countrymen, by plain people,
and plain people must administer it. The
ballot is the pride, as we'll as the protection
of it, and it is the truest indication Of the
popular will. \ It is enough if the returns of
an election can be understood, and if under
stood, the full effect should be given their
natural and obvious meaning They are not
to be strangled by idle technicalities, nor is
their meaning to be distorted by earnings and
captious criticism. When that meaning is
ascertained, there should he no hesitation in
giving it full effect
The language of the Supreme Court of
Maine is in harmony with the position taken
by Mr.. Roberts, that in controversy involv-
ing the validity of an election all doubts
should be resolved in favor of the people.
That is the position of the Republicans of In
diana to-day. They are not contending Cor
the possession Of an office, but for the rights
Of the people. They are not fighting for Col.
Robertson so much as for principle. They
will fight it out on that line, and 60 before
the people with implicit confidence in the re-
| suit.